Short Summary

The 10th Hungarian Communist Party Congress began in Budapest on Monday ( 23rd November ) Among important guests at the Congress was Soviet Communist Party Leader, Leonid Brezhnev, who arrived with other party leaders from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria.

Background: The 10th Hungarian Communist Party Congress began in Budapest on Monday ( 23rd November ) Among important guests at the Congress was Soviet Communist Party Leader, Leonid Brezhnev, who arrived with other party leaders from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. Notable absentees among those expected to attend were Herr Walter Ulbricht and other top East German officials.

Mr. Janos Kadar, First Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party, was main speaker at the opening session. He delivered a four-hour report on international and domestic issues which included reference to relations between Hungary and China, and the serious differences in their ideologies. Mention was made by Mr. Kadar of his country's readiness to conclude an agreement to establish full diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia and East Germany after settling outstanding questions. This was in addition to agreements with the Soviet Union and Poland.

Mr. Kadar also suggested to the Congress that the time for summoning a European Security Conference ..... as originally proposed nearly two years ago by the Soviet bloc..... had matured to a point where it could be convened in the near future.

The six-day Congress will continue until Saturday ( 28th Nov.), when it ends after the election of party officials. No major changes in leadership are foreseen by journalists attending the Congress.